KEENE, N.H. 2/22/05 - Bri Barnes (Merrimack, N.H.) scored a career-high 29 points with six three-pointers and Sarah Begnoche (Millville, Mass.) finished with 14 points and nine rebounds to lead the third-seeded Keene State College women's basketball team to a 68-57 victory over sixth seed Plymouth State University in an opening round game of the Little East Conference Tournament played Tuesday night at Spaulding Gym.

It was the fourth win in a row for the Owls (16-10) who advance to the semifinal round where they will face the winner of the opening round game between #2 Eastern Conn.- #7 Western Conn. winner at Southern Maine on Friday night. It is the fourth time KSC has moved on to the semifinals since joining the LEC in the 1997-98 season.

Plymouth State concludes its season with a 9-16 mark.

The Owls raced out to a 33-26 halftime lead. Barnes, who had 19 first half points, hit five of six three-point attempts. KSC went on a 12-2 run midway in the half to build up a 30-18 lead at the 3:55 mark. A lay-up and free throw by Colleen Mahoney (North Attleboro, Mass.) cut the deficit to 30-26, before Barnes buried her fifth trey. Betsy Oswalt (Jaffrey, N.H.) had seven points for PSU.

A couple of fast break lay-ups by Begnoche, the first on a over-the-head pass from Barnes and the second following a steal by Cathy Mechare (Falls Village, Conn.) put KSC up 45-35 at 14:50.

A lay-up by Mahoney made it a five point game (52-47) with 8:38 to play. But the Owls responded with an 8-1 run, capped by another Begnoche lay-up to go up 60-48 with 4:28 to play. Barnes sealed the win with a breakaway lay-up to put KSC up 64-56 with 1:30 left on the clock.

"I haven't had many good shooting games of late, but they were falling for me tonight," said Barnes. "We just came out played hard and took control of the game."

Bekka Hopkins (Oxford, Mass.) added 12 points for the Owls who hit nine of 23 three-point attempts in the game.

Mahoney had nine points for PSC, which shot 29% from the field and committed 23 turnovers.